Strong winds leave thousands without power in Humboldt County, rare tornado warning issued for Shelter Cove, California
A rare tornado warning was issued for Shelter Cove as high winds downed trees and power lines, leaving nearly 2 000 people without power, and prompted road closures in Humboldt County on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Highway 254 closed on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Credit: Mare Skipper
A strong atmospheric river produced high winds that downed multiple trees and power lines in parts of northern California, leaving thousands without power and prompting multiple road closures across parts of the region.
A rare Tornado Warning was issued for Shelter Cove due to the storm, along with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, with winds of 113 km/h (70 mph) forecast as the storm moved through the region.
Up to 2 000 customers in Humboldt County were left without power, according to the PG&E outage map.
Highway 254 was fully closed south of Phillipsville near Ohman Creek due to downed utility poles. Caltrans District 1 said there was no estimated time for reopening, suggesting U.S. 101 as a detour for travelers.
Alderpoint Road was completely blocked at Cemetery Road, about 8 km (5 miles) north of Blocksburg, according to the California Highway Patrol. Sprowl Creek Road was also reported blocked at Old Briceland Road because of fallen trees, limiting access for residents in the area.
The winds were associated with a strong atmospheric river that is forecast to bring heavy precipitation across central and northern California through early next week.
The same system brought record-breaking king tides that triggered widespread coastal flooding across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, including Humboldt County, over the weekend.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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